Much to my surprise, the classes whizzed by, and I participated a lot more than I usually did. Shareable ideas were popping into my head during history and English, and the algebra problems seemed simple and logical. This was especially strange because Maggie and I had left the house so swiftly that I’d forgotten to take my ADHD meds.

At lunchtime I met up under a shaded picnic table with Tico, Maggie, and Suzanne.

“So this is nice, right?” Tico said. “Normalish.”

“Sure,” Maggie said. “I just heard the power plant and military put a bunch of money into the place to modernize it. Wait till you see the AV Center—it’s all tricked out.”

“I’m really glad to be back,” Suzanne said. “But I have to tell you: I saw the booth where Principal Roberts made his announcement, and it now contains a bank of little TV screens in there, plus lots of speakers and knobs. I think he can spy on all the classrooms now.”

That caught my attention. “Huh,” I grunted. “How many screens?”

“Thirty-six,” Suzanne said. “One for each classroom. I mean, fuck them!”

As I headed back to class, I saw Luke and Troy leaning against a tree, smoking, which was allowed outside, but still … such idiots. With a crutch tucked under his arm, Luke smirked at me and did that thing where he pointed two fingers at his eyes, then my eyes. I smiled and walked up to them.

“Guys,” I said, “things got a little heated on the battlefield of gridiron and beyond. I am truly sorry for laying waste to you, health-wise. Please accept my sincere apology.”

I extended my hand as if I actually expected one of them to shake it. They regarded it as if I were holding out a moldy sandwich.

“Careful with that hand,” Luke said. “You’ll need it for your house remodel.”

Okay, that stung, but I wasn’t rising to the bait. I turned my back to his smirking face, daring the two of them to do something, knowing they wouldn’t. I waved my hand over my head as I walked away, calling out, “Enjoy the rest of your day of learning!”

Happy now, Mom?

Maggie wanted me to go with her to the police station after school to—well, I wasn’t sure what she thought she might accomplish there, but she was riled up after our visit to the newspaper and wanted “to get to the bottom of things.”

“Ruh-roh,” I said in my best Scooby-Doo impression, and told her I had to check in with the coach, so I’d meet her at home later.

I didn’t have to check in with the coach. Instead, I had maybe my stupidest idea yet, which was saying something.

I was returning to the power plant.

My leg wound throbbed in protest, reminding me that I needed to avoid the scarred man and those two faux FBI agents. But I couldn’t just sit around for more bad things to happen as they kept tabs on me. If we weren’t allowed to leave Mount Hope, I had to make something happen here.